Can you tell us about your journey to becoming an in-house counsel? What inspired you to pursue a career in this field?  

My path as an in-house counsel stemmed from a deep passion for law and an unwavering eagerness for new challenges. I began my career at a prestigious legal firm, where I spent eight years immersing myself in groundbreaking projects that ignited my enthusiasm for regulatory  endeavors. 

What has always resonated with me is the opportunity to contribute to projects that reshape the world. In 2014, I ventured into the realm of fintech entities and payment institutions, a period when regulatory frameworks were relatively new, and Mexico saw an influx of new players entering the scene. 

Among my early projects as an external counsel, Stripe stood out. The team’s passion and commitment to constant innovation left a lasting impression on me. This experience marked a pivotal point in my professional journey, as I evolved into a business lawyer. My deep-seated passion for comprehending the intricacies of the law led me to approach projects from a compliance perspective, seeking ways to harmonise legal requirements. 

I consistently embraced opportunities that pushed my capabilities further, fuelling the expansion of my legal expertise and cultivating the adaptability essential for any legal professional. 

Amidst my journey, two areas deeply resonated with me: financial inclusion and technology. The convergence of these fields held immense potential for driving meaningful change within Mexico, and it was this realisation that led me to my distinctive role with Stripe. 

Within Stripe, I collaborated closely as counsel, immersing myself in their projects. My role extended beyond conventional legal boundaries as I engaged with diverse departments, spanning tech, finance, marketing, and operations. This experience honed my legal skills while enabling strategic contributions that aligned with the company’s objectives 

In your role as an in-house counsel, what are the main responsibilities and tasks you handle on a day-to-day basis?

In my capacity as the exclusive counsel for Mexico, I shoulder a multifaceted role that seamlessly blends legal expertise, compliance vigilance, and regulatory insight. Each day, I navigate a dynamic terrain to ensure that our operations adhere to legal benchmarks while upholding the fundamental tenets of Stripe’s guiding principles. 

At its core, my role encompasses both the responsibilities of a compliance officer and a regulatory counsel. This dual role entails not only crafting internal policies that harmonise with local regulations but also proactively adapting to the ever-evolving legal landscape, offering strategic counsel to the organisation. 

A substantial portion of my routine involves the meticulous analysis of anti-money laundering (AML) cases, a task that reinforces the integrity of our financial processes. Simultaneously, I dedicate considerable effort to create metrics that gauge the strides we are making in compliance, all while meticulously reviewing agreements and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure user compliance. 

Additionally, I play a pivotal role in incident analysis, both at a local and global scale. I evaluate the repercussions of incidents and, in alignment with Stripe’s principle of delivering outstanding results, design preventive strategies that address root causes. This proactive approach safeguards our operations and upholds the high standards we hold ourselves to. 

Embedded within my daily responsibilities is a commitment to Stripe’s core principles. From prioritising users’ interests to embodying the principle of being meticulous in craft, I continually strive to deliver outstanding results that echo the essence of Stripe’s values.  

In essence, my role embodies the roles of compliance oversight, regulatory guidance, AML case evaluation, metrics creation, agreement scrutiny, user compliance advocacy, and incident analysis. These multifaceted responsibilities collectively ensure legal integrity, foster a culture of proactive compliance, and bolster our operational resilience—while staying in harmony with Stripe’s guiding principles 

What are some of the key challenges you have faced as a rising star in-house counsel, and how have you overcome them?

Navigating the path as an emerging in-house counsel has exposed me to a range of challenges, which are always an opportunity for growth. One of the most prominent hurdles relates to our unique business model, which often clashes with traditional regulatory obligations created by our Mexican Regulators. Overcoming this hurdle requires fostering comprehensive collaboration. 

This challenge entails aligning multifunctional teams, bridging engineering and regulatory experts across global domains. Collaboratively, we synthesise our distinctive business practices with regulatory compliance, a process that involves meticulous negotiation and innovative problem-solving. By facilitating dialogues between these distinct units, I have managed to blend legal expertise with technical insights to cultivate viable solutions that honor both our model and regulatory demands. 

Furthermore, I have encountered complexities in adapting global policies to suit local contexts. The introduction of new policies or products requires meticulous consideration of jurisdiction-specific limitations. I have taken on the task of raising awareness about these nuances across teams, cultivating a culture where every member comprehends the potential implications. To overcome these challenges, effective communication has been pivotal. Fostering open dialogue between cross-functional teams has streamlined the process of adapting policies to local contexts and ensures that no critical detail goes unnoticed. 

What steps have you taken to enhance your professional development and expand your legal skill set?

I have proactively pursued professional growth and expanded my legal skill set to excel as an emerging in-house counsel. Recognising the importance of adaptability in a rapidly evolving landscape, I have taken strategic steps to enhance my capabilities. 

In addressing the challenges posed by our distinctive business model, I have prioritised fostering collaborative relationships across multifunctional teams. Engaging with engineering and regulatory experts globally has refined my negotiation and problem-solving skills, while deepening my understanding of the technical intricacies that intersect with legal compliance. 

Within the realm of policy localisation, I have embraced open communication, leading discussions about jurisdiction-specific limitations to refine my ability to convey complex legal concepts with clarity. This approach ensures cohesive understanding throughout the organisation and facilitates seamless policy adaptation. 

Moreover, my commitment to staying current with legal shifts extends to my active participation in ongoing learning initiatives, including seminars, workshops, and courses. This continuous learning enriches my legal knowledge and exposes me to diverse perspectives that inform my approach to resolving complex issues. 

I also maintain active involvement as a party to payment participants associations, leveraging these affiliations to remain at the forefront of industry insights and best practices.